When a defendant is found not guilty, must they still pay court costs?

• A. True
• B. Not necessarily
• C. False
• D. It depends on the offense

Answer: (C)

After acquittal, payment of court costs isn’t automatic. Court costs are administrative fees set by statute or court rule, and whether a defendant must pay them depends on the jurisdiction and the specific order issued by the court. Some places waive or reduce costs for someone found not guilty, while others may still require payment of certain costs regardless of the verdict, or only require payment of some costs. The key point is that the verdict alone doesn’t determine costs; the rules in the relevant jurisdiction decide who pays and how much.